Throughout my years working with leaders across pharmaceutical, IT, and life sciences sectors, I’ve observed something fascinating: the professionals who advance fastest aren’t always the most technically brilliant. They’re the ones who’ve mastered the art of influence.
The ability to influence others has become more crucial than ever in today’s interconnected world. Whether you’re building a career in the corporate world, establishing yourself as a thought leader, or creating impact in your community, understanding what makes someone genuinely influential can make the difference between mediocrity and excellence.
Being an effective influencer isn’t about manipulation or control. It’s about inspiring others to willingly embrace your vision through authentic communication and genuine connection. These skills are particularly vital in technical and regulated industries where building consensus amongst diverse stakeholders can determine project success.
Qualities That Set Exceptional Influencers Apart
1. Courage to Navigate Conflict
Effective influencers don’t shy away from trying to influence people even though it may cause conflict. After all, it’s easy to influence those who are already on-side, but the real gains in your career come when you make a positive impact with someone who isn’t naturally disposed to what you’re saying.
Great influencers understand that meaningful influence often means engaging with those who may initially disagree. They present their ideas even when it might cause friction, knowing that avoiding difficult conversations limits their impact.
2. Genuine Curiosity and Charm
Great influencers are curious and charming. They make people feel special and show interest in other people’s lives and experiences. This isn’t calculated manipulation, but rather because they’re genuinely interested in what makes people tick.
When you show sincere interest in someone’s experiences and perspectives, you naturally build the rapport essential for influence. People can sense genuine enthusiasm and curiosity from a distance, and they respond positively to those who value their contributions.
3. Preparedness and Strategic Thinking
Exceptional influencers always have the information ready to back up their proposal, as well as a Plan B. They’re prepared to answer questions and objections to their ideas with thoughtful responses.
More importantly, they anticipate potential challenges before they arise. This level of preparation shows respect for their audience and builds credibility. You can’t influence effectively if you’re caught unprepared on basic questions about your proposal.
4. Calm Confidence
They exude calm confidence. If you appear worried or tentative, it will be near-impossible to influence people to get behind you. Confidence is contagious, and exceptional influencers use this to their advantage.
Work on building your executive presence through purposeful body language, measured voice tone, and polished delivery. Often it’s not what you say, but how you say it. This balance of confidence and approachability is key to building influence without appearing arrogant.
5. Authentic Passion
They display genuine passion, which encourages other people to believe and support them. The best influencers manage to convince, convert, and even sell without ever trying to force people to agree.
Passion cannot be faked. People can sense authentic enthusiasm, and it becomes infectious. When you genuinely believe in what you’re proposing, that conviction naturally draws others into supporting your vision.
6. Industry Knowledge and Credibility
They keep abreast of industry news, key people, and events for maximum credibility. To influence, you can’t be caught flat-footed. You need to know more about your sector than anyone else in the room (or at least make people feel that you do).
Study up on the movers and shakers and the latest developments in your field. This depth of knowledge provides the foundation for credibility. Research from professional development studies shows that expertise and authenticity are among the most essential traits that define effective influencers¹.
7. Adaptability and Flexibility
They’re super-adaptable. An influencer understands that there’s more than one way to skin a cat, as the saying goes. If one technique isn’t working, try another.
Master influencers aren’t afraid to drop ideas in favour of new ones or to adopt other people’s ideas either. This flexibility demonstrates humility and shows that they’re more committed to achieving positive outcomes than being right. What works with one person or group may fall flat with another.
8. Recognition and Praise
They encourage and praise others. We all like praise, and we’re all much more likely to be influenced by those who we believe genuinely value our work. The key here is GENUINE praise. Most people will see through praise which is fake or overly calculated.
People are naturally drawn to those who make them feel valued. By acknowledging others’ contributions and celebrating their successes, exceptional influencers create positive environments where people are more receptive to their ideas.
9. Understanding of Reciprocity
They understand reciprocity and are very happy to do people favours in the understanding that it will make people more disposed to returning the favour in future.
Great influencers operate from a mindset of abundance rather than scarcity. They’re generous with their time and resources without keeping score. By supporting others, they create networks of people who are naturally inclined to reciprocate when needed.
10. Perfect Timing
Master influencers know when to strike. They prepare extremely well, research their audience, and time their proposal, application, or request at the moment most likely to succeed.
Perhaps one of the most sophisticated qualities of exceptional influencers is knowing when to make their move. They don’t rush. They understand that timing can make the difference between a proposal that’s immediately accepted and one that’s dismissed without consideration.
Building Your Influence in the Modern Workplace
Every single positive step of your career comes down to your power to influence, right from the first interview where you influenced the hiring manager to believe you were the best person for the job. Each success is directly linked to your power to influence those around you.
These qualities aren’t just relevant in traditional office settings. They’re even more critical in our increasingly digital and remote work environments. Virtual teams require stronger influence skills because building cohesion without face-to-face interaction demands more intentional effort.
At Zestfor, we’ve seen firsthand how developing these influence skills can transform careers in technical sectors. Whether you’re navigating complex organisational dynamics in pharmaceutical companies, leading cross-functional IT teams, or driving change initiatives in life sciences, these qualities form the foundation of professional success.
Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Better Influencer
Developing Your Influence Skills
Becoming an exceptional influencer is a journey, not a destination. It requires continuous self-reflection, practice, and refinement of these essential qualities. Start by honestly assessing which of these qualities you already possess and which ones need development. Then create a plan to strengthen your areas of growth.
Remember that true influence comes from a place of authenticity and genuine desire to create value for others. When you combine these qualities with a commitment to continuous improvement, you unlock the power to not just succeed in your career, but to inspire and elevate those around you.
The most important thing to understand is that influence isn’t about manipulation or control. It’s about inspiring others to willingly embrace your vision through authentic communication and genuine connection. These skills are particularly vital in technical and regulated industries where building consensus amongst diverse stakeholders can determine project success.
With dedication and practice, you can master the art of positive influence and unlock new levels of success in your professional journey.